Methane emissions are generated by both natural sources and human activity. The largest source of anthropogenic methane emissions is agriculture, followed by the energy sector. Oil and gas operations are the largest source of methane emissions from the energy sector. Detecting and measuring methane emissions is crucial in the fight against climate change, and this can be done with highly effective remote sensing technologies. GHGSat can help industrial organizations and oil and gas companies monitor frequently and identify methane gas sources to enable stakeholders to take action to reach reduction targets.
Methane emissions are a severe issue for oil and gas organizations, and unlike carbon dioxide, they are mostly entirely scope 1 emissions from their own operations. Scope 1 emissions are direct greenhouse gas emissions that occur from sources that are directly controlled by an organization. Scope 2 emissions are indirect greenhouse gas emissions that are associated with the purchase of electricity, heat, cooling or steam etc. Scope 3 emissions are associated with purchased goods and services, waste disposal etc.. some methane emissions fall into scope 3. Around 80% of the energy sector’s methane emissions come from the upstream segment, which refers to onshore and offshore oil and gas production as well as fuel combustion.
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Methane and the Oil and Gas Industry
There are 3 leading sources of methane in the oil and gas industry, and these are:
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Venting during routine maintenance
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Flaring
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Fugitive emissions
In 2021, venting and flaring accounted for around 64% and 11% of the global oil and gas sector’s methane emissions. The remaining methane emissions from leakages are fugitive [ref].
It is important to note that natural gas can be a byproduct of oil extraction. If it’s uneconomical to sell or use this natural gas, operators often burn it or vent it into the atmosphere. Burning gas converts it into carbon dioxide and water; however, inefficient flaring can release methane directly into the atmosphere.
Due to the growing recognition of methane’s role in the climate crisis, over 150 countries have signed the Global Methane Pledge (GMP). The GMP aims to cut anthropogenic methane emissions from energy, waste management and agriculture sectors by at least 30% by 2030 from 2020. This is the quickest way to reduce near-term warming and is vital to keep the 1.5°C temperature limit within reach.
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GHG methane emissions monitoring
Reducing methane emissions could have the power to lower the stock of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and cut the very real risks of “tipping points,” This is because methane stays in the atmosphere for only 12 years on average compared with up to up to a thousand years for CO2. The reduction of methane, therefore, serves as a cost-effective method to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance economic growth, improve air quality, and increase energy security. In addition, organizations can rely on advanced technology to detect, monitor, and measure methane emissions from oil and gas assets such as gas plants, well pads, and compression stations.
GHGSat can monitor and measure methane emissions at the facility level from space. Its growing fleet of satellites provides data and actionable information on greenhouse gas emissions to an increasing number of operators. This intelligence identifies trends in methane emissions and helps track when emissions are reduced or eliminated. Additionally, GHGSat informs oil and gas operators when leaks are detected, supporting continuous monitoring of sites and infrastructure repair.
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Reduce methane emissions in oil and gas
GHGSat satellites are equipped with state-of-the-art spectrometers that can quantify methane emissions by location every other day for two weeks – this frequency is set to increase in the coming months with the launch of more satellites. The ability to monitor frequently and detect emissions is critical for stakeholders to understand their carbon footprint better and take action to reduce it. GHGSat empowers organizations to monitor, detect and measure methane emissions from oil and gas assets such as gas plants, well pads, and compression stations. In addition, GHGSat provides data technology to organizations allowing them to accurately identify methane gas emission sources while supporting leak detection and repair (LDAR) activities of production operations and environmental reporting.
With GHGSat, the oil and gas industry can reduce emissions by monitoring assets and keeping methane in the sales line. Learn more about GHGSat’s global emission monitoring for the oil and gas sector here.
GHGSat’s proprietary satellite technology adapted to aircraft also accurately detects and measures methane emissions to individual sources. The patented instrument, GHGSat-AV, can operate at different altitudes, trading spatial resolution for coverage to meet specific survey requirements and combining DATA.AIR services with satellite monitoring (DATA.SAT), GHGSat’s tiered monitoring service offering, delivers actionable emissions intelligence to reach emission reduction targets.
